Detachable link.



No. 69|',433." Patented Ian. 2|, I902.

W. H. BAKER. v

DETAGHABLE LINK.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

MEMBER u zrmssas. 4 mum T012.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM H. BAKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF- ONE-HALF TO CHARLESF. TUNSTEAD, OF OXFORD, MICHIGAN.

DETACHABLE LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,433, dated January21 1902.

Application filed April 29, 1901. Serial No. 57,920. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BAKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Links; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invent-ion relates to a detachable chainlink; and it consists inthe construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth,and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The objects of the invention are to produce a link of the characterdescribed for the purpose of mending or splicing broken chains of suchconstruction as to obviate any deleteri-' ous effects by the action ofthe frost, to obviate overloading said link beyond its strength orcapacity by connecting thereto chains of larger gage than said link, andto provide a link that when used for splicing chains will pass oversheaves and pulleys or wind upon rollers as readily as the links of thechains of which it becomes a part, obviating the breaking of said linkthrough its inability to conform to the arc of the roller or pulley.

The above objects are attained by the arrangements of parts illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows my improved linkas employed in mending a broken chain. Fig. 2 is an elevation of thelink, illustrating the manner of inserting anotherlink therein,theopening through which the link is inserted gaging the size to preventoverloading. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the sleeve which closesthe opening in the link, showing said sleeve embracing the open ends ofthe link, as when closing said opening. Fig. 4 is a sectional viewthrough the sleeve, showing said sleeve retracted to open the link andallow of the insertion of another link therein.

It is designed that this improved cold shut or link shall be formed ofsteel or wroughtiron to obviate the liability of said link becomingaffected by frost, an important consideration where the link is to beemployed in mending chains used in lumbering or other capacities wherethey are likely to be subject to conditions of low temperature.

In the formation of this link a steel or wrought-iron bar of therequisite gage is cut to the length required to form the desired size oflink, when the ends 1 and 2 of said link-section are threaded, and thesleeve 3 is screwed onto the longer threaded end portion 2. Therod-section is then formed into alink, as shown, with the threaded endportions lying parallel to the body of the link and standing apart toform the opening 5 between their opposed ends. In forming the link thespace 5 between the threaded ends 1 and 2 thereof is so regulated thatit will receive the link only of a chain of the proper size or gage tobe connected therewith without overtaxing the cold-shut link or allowingthe connection thereto of a link too large for the strength of saidlink. To close the link, the sleeve 3 is screwed forward onto thethreaded end portion 2, so as .to embrace and receive the threaded end1,

the sleeve spanning the opening 5 between the threaded ends of the link,as shown in Fig. 3, thereby making a closure of the link and uniting theopposed ends thereofin a manner to give to the joint the requisitestrength to prevent the link from opening when put into use. Whendesiring to detach the link, the sleeve is screwed back upon thethreaded end portion 2, so as to expose the opening 5, when said sleevemay be removed. Upon the sleeve 3 isa raised bead 6 to afford means forgrasping the sleeve when turning it in the operation of opening andclosing the link. When usedto splice a chain, as shown in Fig. 1, thisimproved link occupies the same space in the chain as the other linksand does not in any sense render the chain less'flexible, enabling amended chain to be employed in the same capacity as before, allowingsaid chain to be wound over pulleys and rollers without hindrance orliability of breaking.

The use of this improved link will greatly facilitate the. splicing,lengthening, or mending of chains, as it obviates the necessity oftaking a broken chain to a forge for welding and enables a new link tobe placed in the chain at any time without material delay.

It is designed that this improved link shall be made in various sizesand placed on the market, so that they may be purchased by the consumerin any size desired and at a less expense than the ordinary links forthis purpose.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A detachable link, comprising an integral body formed of a loop,Whose ends are separated to form a fixed opening for the insertion of alink, or links, therein, said end portions being straight and standingin aXillar alinement, threads upon the straight portion of saidterminals, a sleeve threaded upon one of said terminals and adapted toscrew therefrom onto the other terminal so as to close the opening inthe link.

2. A detachable link, comprising an integral body having an openingtherethrough and straight rigid end portions opposite said opening oneof the end portions being longer than the other and both of said endportions being threaded, a threaded sleeve on the longer of said endportions adapted to screw therefrom onto the opposite threaded endportion to close the opening in the link and tie the end portions of thelink together.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM H. BAKER.

Witnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, 0. E. J OSLIN.

